E-Book The Lost Symbol By Dan Brown Full Editions [English Version]

Have you read anything by Dan Brown yet? If not, start with Angels & Demons or The Da Vinci Code. They are better thrillers. If you have already read Brown and enjoyed his previous books, you will probably enjoy The Lost Symbol. Robert Langdon's third adventure is another fast paced thriller that involves secrets in art, architecture and history. Brown does not break any new ground, but he does provide some good beach reading.
Pros

Brown's style keeps the pages turning as readers try to connect the dots.
Symbols and mythology in a familiar setting provides a fun chance to toy with conspiracy theories.
'The Lost Symbol' does not require much effort to read.

Cons

A familiar formula & mediocre dialogue keep Brown from accomplishing anything new.
'The Lost Symbol' becomes tedious when it strays from plot and tries to make profound points.
The "national security crisis," when revealed, falls short of the build up and character reactions.
Long, less-than-captivating denouement.

Description

'The Lost Symbol' by Dan Brown was released September 15, 2009
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
509 Pages

Guide Review - 'The Lost Symbol' by Dan Brown - Book Review
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown is Brown's third Robert Langdon thriller. In Brown's first two Langdon books -- Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code -- Langdon uncovered conspiracies within the Catholic church that involved art and science. The Lost Symbol takes place in Washington D.C. and explores the secrets of Freemasonry.

Brown is not the first to use the Masons as a launching point for a thriller. Indeed, I couldn't help but compare my experience reading The Lost Symbol with watching National Treasure. I enjoyed the movie more because it took itself less seriously than The Lost Symbol and enjoyed a visual advantage (always nice to be able to see the symbols and buildings involved in a conspiracy). Still, there is plenty of Mason folklore to go around, and The Lost Symbol does a fine job of creating another mystery in our nation's capital.

So why do I consider The Lost Symbol merely an average read? First, Brown does not create anything new -- no new character development, no big surprises in plot trajectory. Furthermore, his signatures "twists" are not nearly as tantalizing as in his previous books. After so much build up, I found myself let down by the reality of the secrets revealed in the end. Finally, there are several points when it seems as if Brown is trying to make his book more intelligent or profound than it actually is. Langdon's rants about religion and truth, when not directly tied to the mystery, are tedious and even a little preachy. In fact, the last 50 pages of the book try a little too hard to be enlightening.

My recommendation: If you're planning a trip to Washington D.C. in the next year, this would be a fun read to accompany your tour. Otherwise, unless you're a die hard Brown fan, I'd get on your library list or wait for the paperback release.